BY DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY

!!UPDATE!! APRIL 6, EVENING — Subsequent to THE PLANET‘s column controversy involving the city’s cancelation of its contract with the Sonsini Animal Shelter, the two principals at the heart of the matter issued statements. Krista Wroldson Miller, chairwoman of the Friends of Sonsini, sent the following memo to city councilors. Mayor Linda Tyer then issued a statement in response. THE PLANET presents both statements following, unedited:

MEMO, MILLER TO CITY COUNCILORS:

Dear City Councillors,

As you may be aware, Mayor Tyer terminated the City’s agreement with Friends of Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter Inc. on February 28, 2018. As you probably also know, the Shelter, myself, and Treasurer Judith Trumble filed suit against three rogue Directors in November 2017 and subsequently obtained a restraining order and injunction against these Defendant Directors.

The following facts — all which are now public record — should be known to City Council:

1. Over the past couple/few years, Renee Dodds (member of the Animal Control Commission, sister-in-law to Justine Dodds who works for the City’s Department of Cultural Development, and whose company, “Love Us and Leave Us” dogsits Mayor Tyer’s dog) hired all the Friends of Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter to work for her business while also working at the Shelter.

2. Dodds was on the Board of Directors of the Shelter from late 2016 until around July 2, 2017.

3. It was later learned that Dodds joined the Board with the intention of undermining the existing Board.

4. In early 2017, Dodds attempted to put a number of cohorts on the Board in an unlawful manner. Dodds commenced a smear campaign against

5. In summer 2017, under scrutiny for not properly submitting receipts for fundraising expenses and during a time when Shelter staff was under scrutiny for bringing in non-Shelter dogs, including dogs from Dodds’ business, Dodds resigned from the Board.

6. At the end of August 2017, Shelter staff all resigned at once after the implementation of an unpopular “only one staff dog” policy.

7. Two resignation letters echo the exact same talking points made by Dodds in a text she sent one of the Defendants on August 23, 2017, the day before the two main full-time staff resigned.

8. Before filing the lawsuit, Miller met with Roberta Dews in an effort to informally resolve the issue involving the Board’s governance. Miller had hoped Mayor Tyer would put in a word with the Defendants, of whom one previously worked for Ms. Tyer.

9. Also before filing, Miller contacted the Attorney General’s office for assistance. Defendants and others also contacted the Attorney General’s office when the lawsuit commenced. They determined that there was no need to get involved.

10. Around this time, Miller and Trumble also sought an audit by the State Auditor to put to rest the baseless accusations Dodds and other had/have been making about them. The External Affairs Department told them that the municipality needed to request the audit and pay a fee.

11. On December 13, 2017, the Court issued a preliminary injunction enjoining Defendants from interfering with Ms. Trumble’s and Miller’s positions on the Board and as officers of the corporation among other things.

12. Also on December 13 and December 14, 2017, Renee Dodds communicated with Lori Robertson, former manager at the Shelter, saying that she had been talking about the Shelter nonstop for days and that she met with Mayor Tyer with “the goal [] just to remove Krista and Judy.”

11. On December 15, 2017, Robertson announced that she would be meeting with the Mayor who “want[ed] as much information as possible.”

12. On February 28, 2018, the case was transferred out of Pittsfield District Court to Westfield District Court “to avoid a potential conflict of interest or appearance thereof.”

13. Also on February 28, 2018, the Shelter received a letter providing 30 days notice of the contract’s termination under the “termination for convenience” clause of the contract. The letter stated that the Shelter was to be vacated by March 30, 2018 by 5:00 p.m.

14. Coincidentally (or not so coincidentally), the Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors of Friends of Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter Inc. was scheduled for March 28, 2018.

15. Two of the Defendants’ terms expired, and one had previously resigned, so successors were appointed to replace Defendants at the March 28th Annual Meeting.

16. On March 30, 2018, Animal Control Officer Joe Chague arrived at the Shelter requesting the keys be handed over and informing Shelter staff not to handle the dogs.

17. This was despite the written assurances from City attorney Dohoney that Friends of Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter would be able to remain on the premises after March 30, 2018 due to a need for additional time to vacate.

18. On April 4, 2018, a Motion for Summary Judgment was filed against Defendants.

19. Most of the facts above are included in the Memorandum of Law filed with the Motion.

20. Of particular importance are Exhibits A4, A51, and A52. In one these exhibits, Dodds perjures herself.

Filings are all available at https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1zgp3977eu3jl2s/AABgPgt9sdpk6UD1gOv1G-Q9a?dl=0

While the government has broad rights associated with the termination of a contract for convenience, possible grounds to challenge include when a Contracting Officer acts in bad faith or where an abuse of discretion can be established.

We believe that the Mayor’s termination of the contract was in bad faith and abused discretion.

I understand that you have received an email communication this afternoon from Krista Wroldson-Miller pertaining to the Sonsini Animal Shelter. Since this is an ongoing legal matter my office has refrained from commenting. However, it is important for you to know that the information presented in Ms. Wroldson-Miller’s account is not accurate and is misleading. I am confident that we are on solid legal ground.

The focus of this communication is to reassure you that the health and well-being of the animals in the city’s care is a top priority. As the news of the contract termination has evolved, I know that you and many in our community have questions. The Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter will remain open. Once the city has taken back possession of the building, our Animal Control Officer will step in and manage the day-to-day operations of the shelter for a temporary period of time while we develop a plan for the long-term.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Attorney Dohoney.

Sincerely, Linda

——— 000 ———

Here is our original column:

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION APRIL 6-8, 2018) — THE PLANET reminds one and all that abandoned animals more than people need help, shelter, and protection.

People in the downs (a) often cause their own demise through bad choices and (b) usually have the intellectual means to lift themselves out of harm’s way but are too lazy to do so. Domesticated animals, conversely, have only humans to do them right. Moreover, skid row just isn’t the same, with those who choose to lam receiving all they need — food, shelter, clothing, ciggies, booze, drugs, lottery tickets, college, and more — through handouts. Why bother to work for a living when you can make more living off Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski?

Lately, the City of Pittsfield has been doing anything but right by our innocent little furry friends. Out of the blue as far as the public is concerned, the city last Friday (Good Friday) abruptly canceled its contract with the Sonsini Animal Shelter. The big question is why? The city terminated its agreement with the Sonsini, treating the covert action as if it were protecting the Manhattan Project. No one will take responsibility for the closing, sending up more red flags than Kruschev’s factory.

The mayor’s office has been useless for information. Roberta McCulloch-Dews directs administrative services, yet she obfuscated twice when asked about the nixed contract. First time out, she told an unwashed scribe, “I’m not the animal control officer, so I couldn’t handle that.” Truly? And why is the management of the shelter an “administrative service?” Second time around, Dews pulled a “Sgt. Schultz” claiming that the closure is a legal matter. She’s not Perry Mason and doesn’t play him on TV.

Fine, then how about her boss? Mayor Linda Tyer hasn’t said peep. Joe Chague, the animal control officer? Nothing doing. City attorney Rich Dohoney? After confirming that the contract was canceled, Dohoney had a “no comment” on the “why” of it. To add to the silly intrigue, councilor at-large Earl “The Pearl” Persip, a member of the animal commission no less, announced Tuesday that the commission’s regular meeting set for Wednesday (April 4) had been suddenly canceled and rescheduled for April 12. Why this “Pittsfield coincidence?”

“That’s a question for the mayor,” he said. Persip’s fingerprints on the candlestick in the library doesn’t make him Col. Mustard, only Mustard’s stooge. As Persip inadvertently reminds us nearly every time he appears in public, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste. So is a backbone.” Persip came off as a perfect patsy called upon to deliver the news of the all-of-a-sudden convenient cancellation while his political masters remained comfortably hidden among the satin pillows and silver toe rings. He’s either too dumb or too compromised to protest his thankless job, but, ah, that’s the lot of a newcomer let into the inner circle. Rookies don’t get to spend time in the batting cage.

Meanwhile, Krista Wroldson Miller, chair of the Friends of the Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter, said the Friends offered to purchase the city building off Hubbard Avenue, where the shelter is located but the city wouldn’t deal. When Chague and PPD Capt. John Mullin showed up on Monday to shut down the shelter, staffers told them to take a tlying tuck. Good for them, because it doesn’t appear the city gave any thought of what they would do to the poor animals if they had boarded up the place.

The building remained open and, as of press time, animals were still being cared for by volunteer staff. If there’s a award anywhere to be given, its to the Sonsini staffers for their persistence and dedication to the welfare of the innocent creatures caught in the crossfire of the city’s disgusting politics.

Miller says “It’s about time the people attempting to destroy are called out.” She hasn’t yet publically named names, but look for the April 12 meeting. One presumes Miller and her supporters will be there. It should be good for the type of hick fireworks for which Pittsfield has become famous.

God bless the animals.

Have a great weekend, everybody.

“A person who calls an animal dumb is the dumbest son-of-a-bitch of them all” — Sir Tiberius Fruitjuice

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

The views and opinions expressed in the comment section or in the text other than those of PLANET VALENTI are not necessarily endorsed by the operators of this website. PLANET VALENTI assumes no responsibility for such views and opinions, and it reserves the right to remove or edit any comment, including but not limited to those that violate the website’s Rules of Conduct and its editorial policies. PLANET VALENTI shall not be held responsible for the consequences that may result from any posted comment or outside opinion or commentary as provided in Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and this website’s terms of service. All users of this website — including readers, commentators, contributors, or anyone else making use of its information hereby agree to these conditions by virtue of this notice. When PLANET VALENTI ends with the words “The Usual Disclaimer,” that phrase shall be understood to refer to the full text of this disclaimer.

115 Responses to “!!UPDATE –EMAILS FLY AFTER PLANET’S COLUMN ON ANIMAL SHELTER!! … SONSINI INTRIGUE: ‘I WOULDN’T SEND A KNIGHT OUT ON A DOG LIKE THIS’”

You are right. It smells so bad that they don’t have to clean up the dog droppings anymore. Tiny Persip should go back to his job of handing out jock straps and towels at the Y. And secretary Tyer. Do the right thing for once.

I love animals and I am saddened by the news that Pittsfield politics “abruptly canceled its contract with the Sonsini Animal Shelter.”

But poverty and homelessness is not a choice for most people who need shelter, food, and safety. The average poor and homeless person is six to ten years old! Some people are victims of domestic violence! It cost about $44,000 to help a homeless person, while it cost about $17,000 to provide a person shelter. That’s means taxpayers save $27,000 per homeless person to provide him or her with shelter!

The demographics of poverty and homeless people are mostly the young, victims of domestic violence, and poor minorities. A just society would protect these groups of people from poverty and homelessness!

On another subject, I read that the Berkshire Museum won its court case and is going to sell its most valuable and historic pieces of art soon. Someone is ready to fill their pockets with a lot of money! The shakedown begins!

Honestly…perhaps the stupidest story I have ever read. First, with all the last names, then first names being tossed around it was really hard to follow who was saying and doing what. Second, why is what amounts to an employee grievance being elevated to this level by ANYONE, on either side? Seems like everyone there has the cred to show they love and care for animals. Figure it out. The mayor was truly a dolt to get involved with this one, if she did.

After hearing from School committee Taylor telling Mrs Behnke,Joe Curtis,McCandless how underpaid they are I believe our city needs to shine the light on all accounts concerning cash or contracts.Lets start with PTO accounts and school staff store cash where we are always in danger of bad accounting using the schools as cover for some fishy counting overseen by principles.When it comes to counting and fundraising in schools it is a secret area outside the public view and the cash is a temptation.Sonsini is something that needs to see the light of day .

Even with her unmanageable fiscal policy and propensity for TAX and FEE INCREASES, coupled with LACK OF TRANSPARENCY with NO CITIZEN ACCOUNTABILITY, as well as CRONYISM, DRAMA, and INTRIGUE; the selfish vested groups will still support the malfeasant Mayor Tyer and her anointed successor, John Krol, aka “The Tax Increase Councilor”.
Will the last respectable taxpayer to leave Pittsfield, please turn of the last remaining light ?

Mcandless has to deal inthe reality that drugs on the street can be attributed to school budgets,taxpayers are to provide safe sidewalks and roads that lack because of school budgets,Mrs Taylor must understand that parks and recreation are very important to taxpayers.We must also keep schools safe through our fire department budget.What about snow removal ?Mrs Taylor open your checkbook at home to the public and explain to us lower income supporters of schools how you pay bill with a limited income.Im discusted by the education you have achieved that does not allow for critical thinking of bill paying.Im guessing Behnkes day is so so busy and being so underpaid it makes her enormous staff laugh at her and her husbands 200 k income and wondering how do the Behnkes make it on 200,000 taxpayer dollars.Poor Mrs Behnke suffers in the school.What nonsense.

Im glad you’re not giving Earl The Pearl a pass. For many years that many has been high and mighty for no reason. While he is definitely a man of the people, he cow tows the GOBSIG line and his average intelligence is showing.

Any volunteer that is not welcome and stays usually has some alternative motive! I’m not accusing Mrs Miller of anything. I don’t even know her, but why does she insist on staying? Some people even inside the place wish she would go. I think there is much more to this story. It’s my hope that Dan digs deep! A person that still volunteers there insist crooked practices are occurring!

Bobby is right…there are crooked practices going and I think public fraud but who is committing it?is it the city side of the Friends side? First I thought one then the other … I don’t think the city would make above like this unless it had evidence of wrongdoing, I hope all this comes out at the hearing.

Any volunteer that has a problem is welcome ti go to the Manager or Board at any time. If the volunteer is unhappy, then perhaps she should go somewhere else. No volunteer has approached the board or manager with any concern, the issue would have been addressed immediately.

MassLive got rid of its normal blog style after each article. They now have a bizarre system that is supposedly live and if you don’t like what someone is saying you can shut them down. Sounds good if they are being nasty to you, but if they are just trying to make a point then it sounds like people just wanting to surround themselves with people who think just like they do. MassLive even goes on to say in their defense of the new board that why would you want to speak with someone who doesn’t think like you anyway since you will never change their minds. Sounds like an echo chamber to me. It sounds boring.

Agreed Pat. I like the Reddit-style of moderation, where readers vote up or down on an article or post, with the low ranked ones sinking to the bottom exposure-wise. But if you are just silencing opposition voices, left or right, then it does become an echo chamber which is boring and dangerous. Wow, Pat posts in agreement with SC and I post in agreement with Pat! Dan, you may have performed a small miracle. I’ll vote for canonization!

Bucky the co-star of the Gaetani News Hour was born at the Sonsini a kennel and is quite pissed that his old Kennel-Mates almost lost they’re home. Bucky was last seen heading West to a Gated Community on outer West Street. before he left he peed on a bush, kicked up some dirt and was full steam ahead.

I know 11 people who are getting 1700 a month and are trying like hell to help the Behnkes pay their bills .Lets start a go fund me page for principles,behnke Curtis and Mccandless….call Miss Taylor who will explain to you how they could make real money down in Newton,ma.

The people that do the work Or pay taxes will subsidize the Mayor and Jive and Yawn and the rest 50 plus pensioners,the poor lunch bag slob that works to pay taxes will pay until they die, while private sectors gets a baloney sandwich in comparison. An older pensioners get the shaft because the pay was ten time lower back then.

My main curiosity is why the mayor and city hall refuse to discuss the subject of the Sonsini Animal Shelter. What could be so bad that we cannot even talk about it? These secrets could have a negative effect on donations to the shelter and that would be so sad.

I want PTOs and school stores or any selling to staff or students audited and the results given to the public.I want anyone handling cash in our scool buildings to explain why there are not 2 people sighning off on cash.Taylor will probably explain that skimming cash is how administrators make ends meet.There are so many stories about missing cash its time to audit all these people for at least the last 5 years.Remember 10,000 cash at PHS.Another about Crosby,lets get this done.The stories are out there so lets put an end to them.Behnke needs to be efficient and qualified.

While I don’t agree with everything the lovely Linda Tyer does as Mayor, I still support her in politics. She inherited a mess from the Doyle debacle, the Hathaway hack, the Ruberto regime, and the Bianchi bust. Go lovely Linda!

The Berkshire Eagle’s editors point out the problems with the commonwealth’s 25-year-old education funding formula. I agree with their assessments on poor communities being treated inequitably by their state government in Massachusetts.

I remember the “Big Dig” from 25 years ago. The “Big Dig’s” recurring billion dollar cost overruns were a real warning to cities, towns, counties, and public school districts constrained budgets back in the 1990’s. Despite the red flags of Boston’s “Big Dig”, Beacon Hill kept on with its pork barrel project. It was only a matter of time, which has come, that the “Big Dig” would suck away like a black hole the money needed for local budgets’ fiscal solvency.

Then, I remember when Willard Mitt Romney became Governor of Massachusetts in 2003, or 15 years ago. One of the first things Romney did was make deep cuts to local government, including public education! 2002 was a deep economic recession. At that time, it was the worst recession since the Great Depression of the 1930’s.

Ironically, I remember then-Governor Romney gave the Legislature a pay raise to buy their support. Romney was such a flop that he served only one term as Governor. He would spend the next decade running for U.S. President without success. Now, Romney is running for U.S. Senator from Utah.

Over the past 25 years, Massachusetts endured the “Big Dig”, and two major recessions in 2002 and 2008. Massachusetts is the number 1 per capita debtor state in the nation. Massachusetts is ran by a one political party oligarchy that only serves the vested and special interests. The common citizen has no real voice in Massachusetts politics!

In conclusion, Massachusetts’ fiscal mismanagement, compounded by the “Big Dig” and 2 major economic recessions, left local government and poor communities without equitable economic supports. The wealthy suburbs and corporate interests have been able to stay afloat, while the poor and constrained communities are being pushed closer to the proverbial cliff!

Well good points Jon, but, we just elected a Millenium funded State Senator from out of Pittsfield, his First order of Business was to give himself and the rest of the Statehouse a raise, that was his first vote.
But there is Hope. We have a Saviour, his name is Gaetani, maybe you’ve heard of him, he has already saved the City over 200 plus million dollars, why don’t you ever give him any kudos?

Taylor ,I want you to talk about how hard people at walmart work and waitresses at your dinning facilities work and how about police in Town so sick of Yon Elias and Taylor McCandless making teachers out to be big babies always whining about hard work and wages..Teachers go to work in warm buildings and no manditory overtime….you people are making fools of the teachers.Taylor could have a nice budget to work with down in Waltham…please Yon,Taylor go to another system you have screwed this one up

These school folk are trying to jump on the national bandwagon of more money for schools. They fail to mention that they got their many times over and they still got their greedy hands out for more. Greed has pretty much ruined Pittsfield. But what they don'[t seem to realize is that if the city goes bankrupt they may not get their pensions in full.

Gaetani should be Mayor for the following reasons..Cut seven percent from all Departments, Saved 200 million plus on water projects,three bag color for garbage, boots on the ground in strategic neighborhood,form Police Advisory Committee.

Taylor said all we need is 1500 more people working hard at walmart so that Behnke,Buchinski,Curtis,McCandless can finally recieve a decent weeks pay…..Behnke and her husband only make 4 grand a week…..Buchinski makes 100k at Williams school .

Behnke also gives away our school buildings to the YMCA free of charge.Free heat,free lighting,free classrooms,free gym with custodians having to clean for this outside vendor on school time when they should be working for the city taxpayers.Young Mens Christian Association gets many perks from Mrs Behnke as they charge those students parents for childcare and make hundreds of thousands for the YMCA.Its very,very proffitable …..lets audit this building use for this business.Why is Behnke allowed to assign Pittsfield employees to help the Y program make money…something very fishy going on here.

No wonder the school system is so popular here in Pittsfield. It’s not because of the children. It’s the unbelievable high salaries that these Progressive educators are receiving and they want MORE.

Pittsfield school personnel head to the polls in one giant herd every election cycle and easily sway the election results in their favor by voting in all Progressives who they KNOW will then sweeten the budget numbers to raise their already off the charts salaries. They will then have us believe that Progressives care about equality for everyone. Except for themselves apparently since when it comes to money, they want to be at the top.

Jimmy Kimmel putting down Melania Trump for English being her 5th language. When she was reading a book to children, she had the audacity to say “dis and dat” instead of “this and that” and his Progressive audience roared with laughter. Kimmel also went on to add that Melania didn’t lift a finger to help with the Easter egg roll events even though President Trump had thanked her for her work in setting up the event. Again, his Progressive audience roared.

I thought Progressives respected all women? They put down people with foreign accents? This just proves once again how the MeToo movement is being USED to get votes and they have no real interest in ALL women being treated with RESPECT not just Democratic women. Can anyone imagine Jimmy Kimmel saying that about Michelle Obama?

Kimmel also has the gay community upset about gay jokes he used against Hannity. Chelsea Handler, another anti-Trumper and big Progressive, also being called out by the gay community for gay jokes. They are showing their true selves. It’s all about the votes people not their insincere concern for women and immigrants or even the gay community. Wake up America!!!

Jimmy Kimmel doesn’t seek or need votes Pat. Sometimes comedians say things in bad taste. If there were Conservative comics, I’m sure sometimes they’d cross the line too but there aren’t because, as we know, regressives have no sense of humor.

And Michelle Obama is an extremely accomplished woman who never did anything worthy of poking fun at. If she did, you know the late nite comics would’ve targeted her as well. Obama was pilloried plenty when he misstepped, deservedly.

The Progressive party seeks and needs votes and Kimmel and Chandler are doing their work of making fun of President Trump and family and doing this for the Progressive party.

The Obama family was treated like royalty by the liberal media and everyone knows it . Conservatives would call Obama out, but since the liberal media controls everything except for FOX news, which they would like to shut down, we heard only praise for Obama from the liberal media. Certainly Jimmy Kimmel would never have said anything like that about Michelle.

This is why if we have a Progressive as President again, you will see a huge difference in media coverage. The liberal media will be in full “we must respect the president” mode. They hypocrisy and difference in coverage will be stunning.

So tired of hearing about the “liberal media”, or about FOX news for that matter. WE are the media. It’s all market. So if there is only ONE conservative news source, then that would tell you that there isn’t a market for MORE! There is only a small proportion of the market that subscribes to what FOX throws out there. Same with MSNBC and CNN. Most people are somewhere in the middle. As far as persecuted Trump being made fun off on late night TV, maybe if he was respectful of anyone beside Hannity and Putin, he would get some respect in return.

Stop listening to Rachel Maddow as your main news source. President Trump is doing more to stop an out of control Putin and Russia than Obama ever did. Obama refused to admit that Russia was even a problem. He thought it was a joke.

Progressives would love nothing better than to silence all conservatives so they would be the only voice in this country. This is why they have infiltrated every area of society with their agenda and with the LIBERAL MEDIA in their pocket they could then get away with whatever they wanted since there would be NOBODY to call them out on any corruption.

I lost all respect I had for Michelle Obama when she said (following his election) that this was the first time in her life that she was proud of her country. (That comment is played often on Fox….and rightfully so!)

That stabbed in my heart because no matter how often I may disagree with what goes on in DC, I am PROUD to be an American.

I agree Spider. And who can forget her lack of grace & class when on Inauguration Day, Melanie handed her a wrapped gift – and Michelle acted like it was a hot potato! No grace no class. The Obamas hated America!

You are uninformed – Hillary is the one conspiring with Russia per the Uranium One scandal which happened under Obama’s reign. In addition, Hillary is the force behind the dodgy dossier, the fake “golden showers” document which was intended to smear Trump. There is no evidence whatsoever of collusion between Trump & Putin. Trump has kicked Russian diplomats out of the U.S. & has levied sanctions against Russia. You spend too much time listening to fake mainstream news. Educate yourself before throwing out false information just because you don’t like Trump.

The mainstream liberal media is doing its job well for Progressives by making sure that so many people are simply uninformed by being fed fake news on a regular basis about what is really going on in this country. They planned it this way. It allows Progressives to stay in power in many areas of the country. Control the media and you control the minds of so many people who believe whatever they are told.

So terrible. Expect lots more car crashes from stoned drivers. Just another example of society continuing to go downhill. Hardly any place to shop in Berkshire County that is affordable, but we sure can provide pot to the masses to keep them sedated. All they need to do is keep voting for Progressives and they will be sure to get their fix because these pot centers are not just for medical purposes as most of us know. Edibles? Really? People taking pot for medical purposes only would not care about that. This is pushing recreational use of pot on a wide scale.

Did anyone see the movie Chappaquiddick this weekend? The theme of the movie being that with great power we get corruption and cover ups. This from the Kennedy family that Americans idealized for so many years.

This is why small government is so critical regardless of which party is in power. Government needs to be reined in and kept manageable and answering to ALL of the people. That way when my side is in power in the White House, you won’t be worried about a dictator being in power and I won’t have the same fear when your side is in power. Small government with power kept in check for both sides solves that problem.

We also wouldn’t have to worry about the media siding with one party and covering up everything they do since a small government would keep that problem in check also.

Did see it, Pat. Theater was full. Did justice to the story. Ted had a lot of issues. It was a bit of a whitewash of his womanizing, but then again it kept the movie from being R-rated. Bruce Dern was awesome as Joe Sr.

If only it didn’t take so long to make a movie about Chappaquiddick. A lot of young people never even knew about it which doesn’t shock me. So much of important news from the past concerning government officials is not being taught to the young. The young are being taught to completely trust big government. I heard one young person say, “This guy didn’t get involved in politics after all this, right?”

People don’t seem to be connecting the dots. Look at the list of facts that show Dodds using shelter staff on shelter work time to mind her customers’ dogs, trying to stack the Board with cronies, then there is an uprising by shelter staff who also happen to work for Dodds. Then there is the cozying up between Robertson and Dodds. Now all this outrage in the iberkshires article by — guess who — primarily staff of Dodds. Why? Dodds wants to take over the shelter with her staff running it. Seems obvious to me.